Amos E. Joel, Jr.

Amos E. Joel, Jr.

Amos Edward Joel Jr. was born on 12 March 1918 in Philadelphia, PA. He obtained the B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940 and 1942, respectively. He spent his entire professional career, from July 1940 to March 1983, with Bell Telephone Laboratories, starting as a Member of Technical Staff. There, Joel's efforts were devoted to the study, design, and evaluation of telephone switching systems, a field in which he has made many contributions.

During World War II, Joel designed early general-purpose digital computers and cryptanalysis machines. Following the war, he conceived and taught the first course on switching system and circuit design and went on to design the first automatic telephone billing equipment (AMA).

A pioneer in the development of electronic switching systems, Joel started fundamental engineering studies in 1948 that later became the basis for his many contributions. He supervised development planning for the Bell System's first electronic telephone switching systems, and played a major role in establishing the concepts of electronic switching now employed throughout the world.

From 1961 to 1967, Joel was responsible for the design of two systems used to improve operator services: one for 0 and 0 + calls that require operator services (TSPS), and the other that announces telephone number changes (AIS). Versions of both systems are in service throughout the nation.

Joel received a basic patent for his early studies of the switching aspects of cellular mobile radio service. More than 70 other U.S. patents have been issued for his work, including the largest ever U.S. patent for his work on AMA. He has authored and co-authored several books and numerous papers on switching. He has been the co-recipient of the New Jersey R & D Council's Outstanding Patent Award, 1972; and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, 1976. He has been recognized for his work in switching with the Franklin Institute Stuart Ballantine Medal, 1981; the International Telecommunication Union Centenary Prize, 1983; the Genoa, Italy Columbian Medal, 1984; and in 1989 the Kyoto Prize of the Inamori Foundation of Japan, and the New Jersey "Inventors of the Year" Award by the NJ Institute of Technology. In 1992 he was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor, "For fundamental contributions to and leadership in telecommunications switching systems."

Joel has been active in the IEEE (AIEE) since his student days serving on many committees and boards, as Chairman of the New York Section and President of the Communications Society. He is a member of the AAAS, ACM, Sigma XI, and the National Academy of Engineering, and a Life Fellow of the IEEE.

He was married to Rhoda Fenton Joel; they have had children, Jeffrey, Andrea, and Stephanie. His non-professional interests are music, playing electronic instruments, computers, and railroading. Joel died on October 25, 2008 at his home in Maplewood, New Jersey

Further Reading

Amos Joel: Electronic Telephone Switching

Amos Joel Oral History (1992)

Amos Joel Oral History (1993)

Wireless History Hall of Fame Inductee

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